LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD

Austin, Texas

FISCAL NOTE, 82ND LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION

March 28, 2011

TO:	Honorable Larry Taylor, Chair, House Committee on Elections
FROM:	John S O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:	HB2595 by Isaac (Relating to the receipt and storage of a mail-in ballot.), As Introduced

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

The bill would allow for electronic filing of mail-in ballot applications and mail-in ballots and would make them sufficient for the Early Voting Ballot Board to compare signatures between the mail-in ballot application and the mail-in ballot.  Secretary of State would be allowed to adopt administrative rules regarding the requirements for the quality and storage of the electronic images of the mail-in ballot applications and mail-in ballots.  The bill would also allow the original application for ballot voted by mail to be an electronic copy.  It is anticipated that any costs associated with implementation of the legislation could be absorbed within existing resources.

Local Government Impact

Costs to counties would vary depending on the number of mail-in ballots a locality were required to print; however, fiscal impact to local governments is not anticipated to be significant.

Source Agencies:

307 Secretary of State

LBB Staff:

JOB, JT, BTA, KKR